The Great Hall of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was awash in candlelight filtering down from hundreds of candles flickering near the ceiling. The four House tables were buzzing with noise as hundreds of students greeted friends and speculated about the new crop of first-years.
"Well, there're no Weasleys this year, so no safety bets for Gryffindor. I will bet two Chocolate Frogs on that girl that pinched Ron on the Express-- bet she goes to Slytherin." The words were spoken by a tall, slender boy at the Gryffindor table. As he tossed two sweets on the table, he pushed back an unruly lock of jet black hair from his emerald eyes and straightened his robes across newly-broad shoulders.
The brunette girl beside him snorted and punched him lightly. "That's hardly fair, Harry! She might be perfectly nice!"
"Or perfectly horrid," the redhead boy across the table chimed in. "C'mon, Hermione, that girl's Slytherin to the core. Malfoy would love her." Ron paused to drop an Every Flavor Bean in his mouth. "Damn. Beets."
"Anyway," Hermione continued, "We're sixth-years, we're supposed to set a good example for the first-years. It's time to start, so be quiet." The little group fell silent as the new group of first-years hesitantly entered the hall. As the ceremony wore on, Harry, impatient for dinner to begin, gazed around the Hall. His attention was suddenly captured by a slender, pale girl standing just inside the doorway, nervously twisting her hands. He studied her closely, taking in the long auburn hair that almost veiled her too-thin face. He looked away quickly as she raised her face to look around, but not before he caught a glimpse of icy green eyes that stared out at him from deep fatigue bruises.
Funny, he thought. She must be a first year, but why isn't she at the front with the rest of the new kids? She looks kind of tall to be a first year, too.
"Hey Ron. Who is that?" he pointed toward the girl, who seemed to be studying the hem of her robes intently.
"Dunno. I saw her on the train. She had a whole compartment to herself, kept the door shut and locked the whole way here and never came out once. Whoever she is, she isn't very friendly."
"I saw her too, Harry." Hermione chimed in. "She looks really scared, doesn't she? She was positively green on the train- maybe she gets motion sick."
"I've never heard of a carsick witch," Harry scoffed. "Besides, isn't she rather, well, big for a first year?" Before he could continue the thought, Professor McGonagall stepped forward and raised her hand for silence.
"First-years, welcome to Hogwarts. You have been Sorted into your Houses. They will be your families, your classmates, and your friends while you are here." She paused as the Great Hall erupted into applause.
"Now, there is one more small matter to attend to before dinner is served. We have a very unusual situation this year. We have a new student- a new sixth-year student, to be precise. Her name is Ann Llewellyn-Pale. Miss Llewellyn-Pale, would you please step forward?"
The pale girl at the doorway started as if she had been poked. Harry watched intently as she slowly made her way to the front of the Hall. She passed behind him, and he noticed that her hands were trembling and she was looking straight at the floor.
"Miss Llewellyn-Pale comes to us from the Toronto Academy in Canada. Now, Ann, sit down here, just like the others, and we'll Sort you into your House."
Ann clutched the edge of the stool and tried not to faint. She could feel the other studets staring at her; their eyes were like a great weight crushing down on her chest, squeezing out the air. As Professor McGonagall lowered the Sorting Hat onto her head, Ann tried desperately to bring herself under control.
"Aha," whispered the Hat. "Quite a sharp brain there. No lack of courage, though you think you're a coward, don't you? Kind heart, loyal, lots of magical talent. Too honest and sweet for Slytherin, you are, they'd eat you alive. Too flashy, I think for Hufflepuff. What shall it be- Raveclaw, or Gryffindor?"
Ann searched the crowd in a panic. Why was this taking so long? I have to get off this stage, I have to get off now, I can't do this, I can't. Her thoughts raced as she tried to find a face to focus on. Her frightened eyes found a pair of brilliant green eyes, eyes that seemed to steady and calm her. She saw the Gryffindor banner behind the eyes.
"Right. Gryffindor it is!!" shouted the Hat.
The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers as Ann shakily got to her feet. Professor McGonagall gently pushed her toward the House table. "Why don't you take that empty seat there next to Miss Granger? Miss Granger, if you would please make room."