"Maybe." was all she said out loud. The four sat in silence the rest of the way. Entering the Great Hall they separated. Sophie fell in step with her Uncle behind the first years. Her uncle whispered to her that she should stay here, with the first years until her name was called.

A witch, who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall was giving instructions. Sophie paid attention; at least to as much as she could hear over her own racing heart beat. The hat sang its song.

Angie Ashby was called up to the sorting hat. Moments later, the hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Gregory Bradley became the first Ravenclaw. Robert Charlton was the first Gryffindor. Sophie glanced at the Gryffindor table. Harry was there cheering with everyone else, but he wasn't looking at Robert walking to the table, he was looking at her. He winked and she smiled, her fright diminished a bit.

McGonagall called "Heather Clark!" A small pale girl with blonde pigtails walked up to the stool. A minute later the hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!" and the frightened girl scampered off to sit at the table.

"Hannah Clark!" who must have been Heather's twin because they looked exactly alike, only Hannah's pigtails were braided, made her way to the front. She didn't appear to be the least bit scared or nervous. The hat yelled "SLYTHRIN!" and Sophie decided evil twins did exist

Rather larger and pug-nosed "Veronica Crabbe!" was, like her elder brother, in Slytherin.

"Brandy Ellis!" became a Ravenclaw.

"Thomas Fields!" was the next Gryffindorian.

A rather plump and ugly "Gertie Goyle!" followed in her brother's large footsteps and became a Slytherin student.

Harry leaned over and said, "Did there family's plan that?" to Ron. Ron shrugged and cheered as Katherine Harris became the next Gryffindor student. She ran over to sit with her 5th year sister, Kellie.

"Jennifer Jenkins!" "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Louis Martin!" "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Jessica Oxford!" "SLYTHERIN!"

"Tamara Parker!" "RAVENCLAW!"

Sophie stopped paying attention to names. She felt someone staring. It wasn't the butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling she got when Harry stared at her. It was a prickling-at-the-back-of-her-neck feeling. Her gaze moved to the Slytherin table. Malfoy was staring at her. He winked and instead of smiling, Sophie shuddered in revulsion.

"Ashley Young!" who became a Ravenclaw student, was the last of the first years. Sophie was standing all-alone now.

" We have a new seventh year student this year, Sophia Dumbledore." McGonagall announced. Sophie walked up to the stool and prayed that her legs wouldn't give out and she wouldn't be in Slytherin. The hat fell into place on her head.

"Hmmm..." the hat said inside her head. "Brains you have aplenty, a Ravenclaw trait. Patience you lack. Better not be Hufflepuff."

'Oh please not Slytherin!' she thought, gripping the sides of the stool.

"Not Slytherin? You have it you know, lots of power and a will to use it. Your father.."

'He is not my father!' she fairly yelled inside her head. 'He's not! Don't you understand? I am nothing like him! I never will be!'

"Ahh, brave I see. I was only going to say you have lineage in two houses: Gryffindor and Slytherin. Better be."

"Oh God." Sophie whispered.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Sophie's shoulders slumped with relief. 'Thank you.' She thought before pulling the hat off.

"My pleasure." The hat replied before quieting until next year.

Sophie beamed at the Hall as she made her way to the Gryffindor table. She took a seat by Harry. She was patted on the back, cheered, asked if she was related to the Headmaster, and most importantly was she related to Nathaniel Dumbledore.

"Oh yes, Albus is my uncle. Nathaniel is one of my brothers."

"Who are all those other men up there?" Katherine asked her. "One looks exactly like Nathaniel."

"That's because Gabriel is Nathaniel's twin. The other two are Tobias and Matthias."

She was plied with questions about Nathaniel until Albus called for silence in the hall.

"Before we begin to eat, I have a few things to say. I would like you to welcome my nephew Nathaniel Dumbledore as your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." The entire hall cheered. Albus waved his hands again for silence. "I would like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. Now, dig in!" and the plates filled with food.

Sophie nerves had been worked up too much to day, so she merely nibble her food and moved it around her plate.

"You're not eating." Harry whispered in her ear. She looked up at him and smiled.

"My nerves have been frazzled to their very ends today. I simply cannot eat."

"You should anyway."

"Harry, sweetheart, don't mother me." She said with a smile. Harry grinned stupidly at her endearment.

"You called me sweetheart."

"I did?"

"Yeah."

"Sorry."

"Don't be, I liked it." Sophie couldn't help it, she burst into laughter.

Malfoy looked up at the sound of the musical laughter. He saw Sophie smiling up at Harry and he's mood darkened. He slammed his goblet down and nearly growled.

"What's wrong Draco?" Pansy cooed.

"Mind your own business Pansy." He growled. Pansy shrank back, properly snubbed.

Harry and Sophie were blissfully unaware of the stares they were getting. People whispered behind there hands what a cute couple they made. They were interrupted by curious people wanting to know about Nathaniel. Somehow, Sophie answered all their questions to their satisfaction. By the end of the feast, her eyelids were sagging.

"Come on Sophie. You need to get up to bed." Harry finally said.

"Well, all right, but lets go say goodnight to everyone." Harry led her to the High Table and Ron and Hermione followed.

"Night Nathaniel." She said, hugging him.

"Night little one."

"Night Shortie." Gabriel said, picking her up a foot off the ground and pretending to drop her. She laughed.

"Put me down. And I am not that short. You sir, are too tall. 6'4" if I am correct?"

"Sweet dreams." Tobias said, hugging her and kissing her cheek.

"Dido."

"Sleep well." Matthias said with his own hug.

"Its all been said." Her uncle said with a shrug and a hug.

Sophie followed Harry and the others to the Gryffindor where Head Girl Hermione gave the password, "Jiminy Cricket." Which cause Sophie to laugh.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A/N: More? More you say? Well, of course I shall oblige! *giggles*