A/N: The face-claim to Abigail Longbottom is Mia McKenna-Bruce. The face-claim to Sue Li is Jessie Mei Li.

Chapter 4: The Sorting

The Hogwarts Express started its journey to Hogwarts and Harry was excited to go back home, but he was going back as a first year, once again. But this time, he wasn't going alone. He had a brother and a sister going with him this time. It was comforting in a way having siblings be with him this time round.

He almost couldn't wait to meet Ron again, but then again…he was given this second chance in life…that would almost be like slapping Death in the face by proving that he was unable to move on. Besides, Cypress was The-Girl-Who-Lived; she would most likely end up befriending Ron and Hermione. He needed to make new friends, considering his friend pool was small back in his first life, with the Weasleys, Neville, and Hermione. Yeah, Dumbledore's Army brought him Cho and everyone else, but maybe he should branch out more in this second life.

First, he would have to see how it all plays out with Hermione and Ron, if Cypress would befriend them, or not. To be fair, Cypress made a good point; they were all siblings if they ended up in different houses. Maybe them ending up in separate houses would be a good thing, since they could possibly bring unity to the houses once again. However, he didn't want to be separated from his siblings, but he didn't want to be like Fred and George with his siblings either, not that there was anything wrong with that, but he didn't want to be one entity like the Weasley twins. He wanted his siblings to grow without him hindering that.

"Are you okay, Harry?" asked Cypress.

"Yeah, I'm fine," said Harry. "I'm just thinking."

"Okay," replied Tristan. He had taken Juniper out of her cage and had the guinea pig on his lap.

Cypress had opened Halloween's cage and was letting the kitten roam the compartment.

The door opened and Ron walked in. He looked at them and groaned, "Why is everywhere so full?"

"It's just us three," Tristan pointed out.

Harry nodded, "You can join us. We don't bite. Well, our sister does and she leaves bruises."

Ron sat down next to Tristan who had the window seat.

"I'm Ron Weasley," said Ron, looking at them.

"I'm Harry Potter, and that's my siblings, Tristan and Cypress," Harry said.

Ron looked straight at Cypress, who jerked in surprise. "Are you really Cypress? Do you have the…uh…?" He motioned at the side of his neck indicating where Cypress's scar was at.

"She doesn't like anyone looking at it," said Tristan. "It's why she keeps her hair down or in braids."

Cypress had her hair braided, trying to hide the scar.

"Oh," replied Ron, looking apologetic. "Sorry."

"It's okay," replied Cypress.

"Can any of you remember what happened that night?" asked Ron. "Fred and George, my older brothers, mentioned wanting to ask any of you if you remembered what You-Know-Who looked like."

"No," said Cypress flatly. "We can't remember."

That was a bit of a lie. The three of them remembered green light, a high-pitched cackle from Lady Azrael, and flying on a motorbike. Tristan and Cypress didn't know that it was Sirius's motorbike yet.

"Just some green light," replied Harry.

Cypress glared at him. She really didn't like talking about that night they were orphaned.

"Sorry," Harry told Cypress.

"I heard you went to live with Muggles," said Ron. "How were they?"

"Our relatives were horrible," said Tristan. "Everyone else was nice."

And that descended into a conversation with Ron that seemed to play out like the first time he and Ron met. Ron did say he wasn't sure what he would do if Fred and George had a triplet.

However Cypress didn't seem interested in talking with Ron. Harry guessed that it had something to do with Cypress not being interested in 'boy-talk', despite growing up with three boys. She seemed content to read a book and cuddle Halloween though. Harry was sure that Cypress would befriend Hermione though.

Cypress seemed more curious about Neville, especially when he lost his and his sister's (!) toad.

Hermione came in asking if anyone seen a toad because Neville and Abigail had lost it.

Cypress seemed disinterested in Hermione who seemed put off when Cypress wasn't interested in everything, but Cypress laughed when Hermione got Harry and Tristan mixed up (which was, surprisingly, a first). Cypress had tried to strike up a conversation with Neville, who was more upset over losing Trevor and upsetting Abigail in the process.

Harry found it interesting that Juniper, the guinea pig, really didn't like Scabbers, or should he say Pettigrew.

The visit from Malfoy happened, but Pansy Parkinson came along too. Malfoy tried to befriend Tristan and Harry, while Pansy tried to befriend Cypress, who, once again, was disinterested in building friendships with anyone, which was somewhat worrying. However, the only one that she seemed interested in befriending was Neville, which was okay with Harry.

Maybe Harry could see who Abigail was, because in his original reality, Neville was an only child, but now in this one, he has a sister.

Hermione returned after the visit, and told them to get their uniforms on. Cypress and Ron rolled their eyes at that.

"Come on," said Harry. "She's not that bad. I think she's just excited to learn magic because she's Muggleborn."

Somebody had to defend her, because she wasn't going to have any friends until Hallowe'en. He wanted to change that aspect. He had a second-chance.

So, Cypress gathered her uniform and went to the nearest toilets to change.

"We'll be arriving in Hogsmeade Station in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."

"Do we really have to leave behind our pets?" asked Tristan, looking at Halloween and Juniper.

"Yeah," Harry said. "They'll be taken care of."

Cypress seemed to hate leaving her cat behind and stroked Halloween's head through the bars in the cage.

Ron was nervous, his face pale, making his freckles stand out.

They disembarked off the train, Cypress taking a firm grasp of Harry's and Tristan's hands, making sure that she didn't lose them in the crowd.

Harry guessed that the idea of Lady Azrael trying to kill them made Cypress even more protective of them.

The older students broke off heading to the Thestral-drawn carriages.

"Do we follow them?" asked Tristan, looking at the older students.

"No," said Harry. He pointed to a sign on a post, "That sign says that first-years stay on the platform, because someone will escort us to Hogwarts."

"Why do we have to wait here?" asked Cypress.

Harry shrugged, but he knew that they will be getting a boat-ride to Hogwarts as a tradition.

"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" It was Hagrid.

Harry told himself that they had to meet Hagrid. After all, Hagrid was his friend.

"C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!" Hagrid called out.

Even though Hagrid told them to mind the step, Tristan still slipped, nearly bringing Ron down with him.

They followed after Hagrid.

"Why are we surrounded by woods?" asked Cypress. "People could get lost in here."

Harry shrugged, "Maybe it's for aesthetic purposes."

Wait 'til she found out about the acromantula that lived in the woods, along with the centaurs, and sometime soon, Hagrid's big brother. She would faint at that.

Harry looked at Tristan, "How are your legs?"

"They're fine for right now," said Tristan.

Oh, Merlin! The Sorting!

He'll be in pain before it was even over.

"Do you still have Professor McGonagall's potion?" asked Harry.

"Yeah," said Tristan.

Neville and a brown-haired girl, who was standing next to Hermione, were sniffling.

"It'll be okay," whispered Hermione. "Trevor will show up."

"Gran will be mad at us for losing him," whispered the girl.

That must've been Abigail, Neville's sister. He wasn't expecting twins to be honest.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sigh o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder. "Jus' round this bend here."

The sight of Hogwarts across the lake still took Harry's breath away.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats in the water.

Cypress dragged Harry and Tristan after her, with Ron following after them.

Harry sat down next to Tristan, making Cypress and Ron sit next to each other.

Harry wanted Cypress and Ron to get along, after all. He didn't want to put up with arguing again, like what Hermione and Ron were doing when they were in their fifth-year. Granted, he was in a bad state of mind during that time.

They made it under the harbour and then up the steps of Hogwarts and they were handed off onto Professor McGonagall, who led them into a chamber off the hall.

Professor McGonagall spoke about the four houses and Harry tuned out in favor of trying to figure out how to get of Professor Quirrell.

Professor Quirrell would most likely have Lady Azrael on the back of his head. Merlin it was so strange having a female dark lord – er – dark lady after years of dealing with a dark lord.

Tristan almost threw himself in Harry's arms when the ghosts emerged from the wall.

With the way Tristan acted, there was no way that he was going to end up in Gryffindor. Then again, Neville ended up in Gryffindor when he didn't have an ounce of bravery; however Neville did stand up to him, Ron, and Hermione in their first year.

They were led into the Great Hall and were told to get in an orderly line. Professor McGonagall brought out a stool and the sorting hat. He ignored the song and he felt nervous once again.

He was sure that he would end up in Gryffindor once again, but then again, maybe not.

What did Professor McGonagall say again? James was in Gryffindor and Lily was in Ravenclaw.

The sorting began and Cypress grabbed Harry's hand, squeezing onto it very tightly.

Tristan looked like he was going to be sick, so Harry grabbed his brother's hand, which probably was probably uncomfortable for the both of them, but Tristan squeezed it in return.

The sorting commenced and the line started dwindling. Abigail Longbottom was called and she went into Hufflepuff, while Neville went into Gryffindor (after spending almost a minute on the stool.) Harry assumed that Neville was arguing to be put into Hufflepuff.

Sally-Anne Perks was made a Hufflepuff and then, "Potter, Cypress!"

Cypress let go of Harry's hand and made her way to the stool. Harry dropped Tristan's hand.

The whispers started up as soon as Cypress's name was called.

"Doesn't she have two brothers?"

"Did she say Cypress Potter?"

Heads were turning to look as Cypress had the hat placed on her head.

Harry chewed on his lower lip, waiting.

It was nerve-wracking waiting…

And waiting…

And waiting…

Merlin, did he take this bloody long on the stool in his first-year?

Cypress turned to look Professor McGonagall who was frowning.

Finally the hat bellowed, "Gryffindor!"

Cypress seemed to relax and she took the hat as the Gryffindor table gave a thunderous round of applause.

The Weasley twins chanted, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

Harry could've sworn he saw Professor McGonagall smile a little, before she called out, "Potter, Harry!"

Heads turned to look at him as he sat down on the stool, ready for his second sorting.

The hat was placed on his head and then darkness –

"Well, this is interesting."

"What's interesting?" Harry asked.

"I never sorted a person twice," the hat said.

"Oh," replied Harry.

"Hmm. This will be tricky," said the hat.

"I bet," Harry replied.

"Your memories show that you've been in Gryffindor in your past life," the hat said.

"I was," Harry replied. "That was the old me."

"Do you want to go back to your old house?" asked the hat.

Harry thought about it. He could. However that will be him throwing the second-chance back in Death's face like that. But he couldn't smother Cypress like that either. He said, "I can't. I'm a different person now. I won't fit in Gryffindor."

"I see that you're a lover of knowledge," that hat said.

"Knowledge is a weapon. I want to be ready when it involves protecting Essie and Reese from Lady Azrael. I want to be armed when she comes," Harry said.

"Hmm. That sounds like to me like it's Hufflepuff loyalty and protectiveness, but I see that you'll better much suited for—"

"Ravenclaw!"

The Ravenclaw table exploded in cheers, sounding like they were trying to rival the applause from the Gryffindors.

"We got Harry Potter! We got Harry Potter!" Tanda yelled, sounding like she was trying to lead a chant, which some Ravenclaws joined in on.

Harry joined his new house at the table. Padma Patil seemed to smile at him.

He felt kind of bad for the disaster of the Yule Ball. Padma and Parvati didn't deserve that treatment.

"Potter, Tristan!" called Professor McGonagall.

Tristan went and sat on the stool.

A silence came over the hall and Harry realised he was holding his breath. He wanted to know where his brother was going. Tristan definitely didn't fit in with the Slytherins, if he did, that would be a shock of a lifetime, (discounting a female Voldemort and having siblings.)

Everyone seemed to wonder where the third Potter sibling was going to end up.

Dumbledore seemed to be on the edge of his seat, watching eagerly. It was eerily reminiscent of how Dudley watches television.

It seemed to drag on and Tristan kept looking at the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables, like he was debating which one to go to.

Finally the hat opened its mouth and yelled, "Hufflepuff!"

The loudest applause came from the Hufflepuff table and Harry sagged in relief.

Professor Sprout looked like she was proud.

Hufflepuff is going to take some glory by having a famous person in their house, discounting Newt Scamander who had gotten expelled from Hogwarts and went on to write Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. He had been a Hufflepuff.

This was workable, Harry thought. They could use this to their advantage to unite the houses.

The rest of the students dwindled, with Ron going to Gryffindor with the rest of his siblings.

The feast appeared on the table and Harry dug in. He looked to see that Cypress was happily talking to Neville Longbottom and a girl, who Harry was sure was, Faye Dunbar.

Tristan was talking to Susan Bones and a boy, who Harry was sure, was Alexander Calloway.

"Is it weird having your siblings be in different houses?" asked Michael Corner.

"A little, yeah," said Harry. "It'll be good for us to be separated."

Padma nodded, "I agree even though Parvati and I knew that we were going to be in separate houses. What about you three?"

"We didn't know that we had magic until our letters arrived," Harry said. He looked at Cypress, "By the way, Cypress really hates it when people look at the scar on her neck. So can you please not try to look for it or at it?"

"I will make sure that will be enforced," said the male prefect, Robert Hilliard.

Harry nodded, "Thank you."

After the feast, Dumbledore stood up and made his announcements/rules, and then they sang the school song.

Harry looked at Quirrell, with his purple turban and glared. He looked at Snape, who was looking between Cypress, Harry, and Tristan.

Robert led the first-year Ravenclaw to the tower. There was a door with wood that looked aged. There wasn't a handle and no keyhole. The only thing on the door was a bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle.

Harry blinked. Well, this was wholly different from a password.

"Since tomorrow is the first day of school, the knocker asks a non-magical riddle. Tomorrow it will ask a magical riddle. It's not unusual if you find five or so people round the day, trying to solve the riddle," Robert said. "I suggest you double-check if you have everything you need, so you're not stuck outside the common room, waiting for someone to come along."

Robert took the handle and knocked once.

"If you don't keep me, I'll break. What am I?" a musical voice asked from the knocker.

"A promise!" a girl, Sue Li, Harry was sure, called out.

The door opened and they stepped into an airy room.

The ceiling was domed with painted with stars, which was mirrored on midnight-blue carpet. There were graceful arched windows. There were blue and bronze silks. Tables, chairs, and couches were in a niche with bookshelves. In a niche opposite the door was a tall statue of white marble standing beside another door.

Against one side was a fireplace and wooden chairs and couches done up with mid-night blue fabric.

Harry went to a window and looked out, getting a good view of the Quidditch field.

He followed the others first-years to the statue where someone opened the door. There were two spiraling staircases. One door had seventh-year boys and another one had seventh-year girls.

All the way to the top had to be for the first-years. Harry and the boys went up to the dormitory.

There were five four-poster beds, covered in blue eiderdowns. There were navy blue curtains and a wooden nightstand next to the bed. Their trunks were at the foot of the bed. There was a wooden bookcase on one side of the dormitory, along with a door that was open, showing a shower stall, sink, and toilet.

Harry's dorm-mate, Stephen Cornfoot, said, "I think this is going to be a good year."

Harry nodded in agreement, "Yeah. I think it will be too." It would be once he gets Sirius out of Azkaban and they move in with him. That would be his Christmas gift to his siblings. He got changed in his pyjamas and got on his bed. He may be in a new house, but it certainly felt like home.

Everything was going to be okay. He may be in a new house, with a new wand, and with new dorm-mates (Terry Boot, Michael Corner, Stephan Cornfoot, and Anthony Goldstein) but he was going to be okay. He will get through this.