Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potter, only the truely awesome writer, J.K.Rowling does.I do own my characters like Alexis.Like said earlier, I don't own all my friend's names.Kenny is a new one I didn't mention before so I don't own his name.

Chapter 8

The hall went quiet as Alexis walked up to the Sorting Hat.She glanced out at everyone to see why they had gotten quiet all of a sudden.She looked at the Staff Table, where there was a new teacher sitting between Proffessor Trelawny and Proffessor Snape.Then, she grabbed the hat and jumped up onto the stool.She sat here, her hands wringed in her lap and looked like she was concentrating hard.After a few moment, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"Harry noticed something had changed only a bit about the hat's voice.Alexis sat down at the Gryffindor table across from Amy and there was a short round of applause.The Sorting went on until every first year was sitting at a table.Dumbledore then arose to make his speech.A hush fell over the crowd.

"Aah, the begining of yet another year at Hogwarts.Welcome!There are a few ground rules I must set before I can allow you to dig into the delicious feast pepared.First of all, the Forbidden Forest still lives up to its name, as it is Forbidden.Anyone caught in the Forest, by staff or creature," there came a few gasps from some first years at this."will have to pay the consequences.Now, the caretaker, Filch has asked me to tell you that the list of forbidden items has been extended and it will be posted in your house common room.Quidditch Tournaments will go on as schedueled this year and I am glad to announce that there is a new Keeper to Gryffindor's team.This Ron Weasley, the winner of the tryouts held at the end of last year.The captain will be Alicia Spinnet since she has proven herself worthy of it these past years." his eyes twinkled at this."Now, I know you are all tired of hearing me drone on so now, dig in!" and all the food appeared on the plates before their very eyes.Alexis looked at it, overwhelmed.She took a bit of just about everything.She listened to everyone talking busily about their summers and when Alexis looked up from her food, she saw Amy smiling at her.

"What?" Asked Alexis."Take a picture, it lasts longer." she said smiling,Amy laughed.

"I would, but it seems useless since, well, we'll be in a lot of classes together, wont we?And in the same dormitory."Amy went on talking a bit quickly.

Alexis shrugged."I suppose so.But please, don't stare at me while I eat.There'll be plenty of time to marvel at my good looks AFTER the feast." she smiled again.Amy laughed.

"I'm Amy," she said cheerfully.

"Well, I guess you know me already then, I'm Alexis." Alexis said with a mouthfull of steak.

Amy smiled."So, what subjects do you like best?Personally, I like Divination, but that's just me."

Alexis shrugged,"Divination's alright, but I MUCH perfer Transfiguration."

"Have you done any Transfiguring then?You know, for practice?I was looking at tea leaves right before we had to go to King's Cross, my brother and I.He's a fifth year Hufflepuff.His name's Kenny.Do you have any brothers or sisters? I only have the one.He's really kinda wierd though.Everyone else thought he'd be a squib but he wasn't.Too bad, really.He gets annoying at home and now I have to spend a WHOLE school year with him, can you imagine that?Ugh, I don't know how I'm going to make it, I mean, at least he's not in Gryffindor-" 'Oh please, shut up!' though Alexis."If he was, then I would really be bumming, wouldn't I? Heh heh.Oh!Look!" she exclaimed and they looked down at the plates which were now full of sweets.Thankfully for Alexis, Amy started eating and didn't ask her anymore questions.Alexis looked down the line of students at Chrissy and Mark.They were talking quietly.Chrissy seemed to be giggling quite a lot.

Harry was listening to Ron go on about his position as Keeper for the Quidditch team.Hermione interrupted him saying, "You know, Ron, Keeper is a very dangerous position..." she said concernedly.

"How would you know?You don't like anything that doesn't have to do with studying or reading a book." Ron said then went back to his talking.

"Now, Ron you know that's not true!" she felt a bit hurt at the remark.Usually, she didn't mind his teasing.

Ron looked at her, "Oh yeah, I forgot to include nagging everyone to do their homework."

Hermione blushed a little."Well, I like WATCHING Quidditch..." she said not quite truthfully.She found reading much more exciting.

"Oh give it up, you do not." said Ron rolling his eyes.

Alexis was listening and watching them.Hermione looked away from Ron and noticed Alexis looking at her.She smiled slightly and blushed even more.Alexis went back to her food. Amy giggled and leaned toward Alexis cupping her hand over one side of her mouth to prevent Hermione from hearing.

"They bicker like an old married couple, don't they?" she said smiling at her little joke.

"Heh,heh, yeah they do." Alexis said offhandedly.Soon it was time to go to bed as the deserts vanished from their plates.

Hermione led the first years, which included Alexi and Amy, to the Gryffindor Common Room, explaining about the password and painting.They all piled in and Amy and Alexis went up to the dormitory that was for first year girls.Alexis's bed was right next to a window facing the Forest and Amy's was to the right of Alexis's, so that they were side by side.Three other girls came in.There was a tall girl who looked as if she hadn't passed the first year and had to repeat.She had long wavy brown hair and sparkling blue eyes.She introduced herself to everyone saying that her name was Nancy Bradley.The next, a nice looking girl with dark red hair down to her elbows and shy gray eyes said timidly that she was Mary Anne Rosemary.The third was a young, bright girl with eccentric purple(A/N:yes,purple I like that color :-) ) eyes and long blonde hair that reached almost to her knees, said her name was Sadie Peterson.

Alexis laid down on her bed while Amy went on and on about nothing in particular to Nancy,Mary Anne, and Sadie.She pulled the hangings around the bed and changed.She was soon asleep.

Ron was talking to Harry down in the Common Room.

"So your scar really DID hurt?" Harry nodded."Well, when?I mean, if it was recently then that might not be a very good sign, Harry.

"Don't worry, it was earlier in the summer.A short time after the Tournament." He of course was talking about the Tri-Wizard Tournament which had been held last year in place of the Quidditch Tournament.It had resulted in yet another close encounter with Voldemort for Harry which had led to the ressurection of the Dark Lord.

"If it hurts, you know, any time soon, you should definetly send Snuffles an owl." Ron said getting some stares from the people in the Common Room.He looked around then at Harry.

"I will.He wants to check up on me anyway." Harry said yawning."Well, I'm going up to bed, mate." and so he climbed up the steps to the boy's fifth year dormitory.A short while after, Hermione came in from duty looking extremely exhausted.She grabbed a book from her bag and curled up in an armchair near the fire.Ron watched her and said, "You really should get to bed, Hermione."

"Oh Ron, don't be so dramatic, it's not even 10:30 yet." she said checking her watch.It was, in fact 11:00 but she hadn't read it correctly.

"It's 11:00." Ron said simply.

"Your watch is an hour fast." she replied not looking up from her book.

"Accio book," muttered Ron and the book flew from Hermione's hand into his.

She looked at him sternly but yawned anyway. "Ron, give me the book." she said not really wanting to bother with this right now.

"Go to bed then." he said.

"Ron, now." she said even more sternly.

"Go and I'll give it back in the morning." he said just as sternly.

"Give it back and I'll go." she said not looking like she was going to give up.

"Fine." he sent the book back over to her and she snatched it up.

"Go," Ron said watching her.She got up and slowly made her way to the stairs leading to the girl's dormitories.She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.Ron didn't go to bed until well after midnight and didn't fall asleep until much later.