Chapter 4

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Finally we reached the castle. I didn't sleep and neither did she- but we didn't talk anymore. Soon I would be able to be with my friends and not be secluded with the head girl as my only company. As soon as the carriage stopped Joy bolted out, and didn't even look back. I jumped out and started up the stairs, ahead of most of the people. But then I remembered- I was supposed to help guide everyone inside. Grudgingly I went back down and stood at the bottom of the staircase.

"Everybody straight to the great hall, now, please.

Yes, that's right.

Just through the doors to the right... You remember."

Fred and George saluted as they went past. Percy gave me a darting glance, then stared at the floor. Charlie was one of the last ones to come up the stairs. Close behind him was a shy looking girl that looked about my age. She seemed to be relying on Charlie as a guide.

"Oy, Bill. All right? Having fun being Head Boy?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Who's that behind you?" As I said this the girl, who had been staring at me the whole time immediately looked at the floor.

"Oh, this is... Sorry. Bill here could tell you I'm bad with names. What was it again? Sarah?"

She cleared her throat and said, startlingly authoritatively, "It's Claire." She had an American accent. She also had light brown hair, hazel colored eyes, and glasses with wire frames.

"Oh yes. Claire. I forgot. She's new to Hogwarts. She's a seventh year, just like you. She moved here from the U.S. because... Well, I didn't really get why."

"Actually, it's because my father got transferred to here. He works for the U.S. government. This was the closest magical school, so he sent me here. It's very beautiful, I must say..."

There was an awkward pause. "Um... I think everyone's gone in... I don't want to be rude but..." Charlie pointed.

"Bloody hell. You're right. We'd better get inside. You don't want to miss the sorting," I said, rushing up the steps.

"Some Head Boy you are..."

"Shut up, Charlie."

He laughed. We slipped into the great hall, seemingly unnoticed. But I knew Dumbledore had seen. We started to sit down at the Gryffindor table, but then I realized I didn't even know what house Claire was in.

"Did they tell you what house you would be in?" I whispered to her.

"They mentioned something about house placement... They said they'd tell me when I got here," she whispered back.

"Oh. Well you can sit here with us, for now. You seem like a Gryffindor to me anyway."

"OK." She slipped into a seat between Charlie and I.

We sat through the sorting together. Every time something was funny, Claire just smiled. She had an unusual smile. It was a bit crooked and there was a slight space between her 2 front teeth, but it was beautiful just the same. Just once, though, when a newly sorted Slytherin had been so small that the sorting hat fit over his head and shoulders, she laughed. She had the most beautiful, musical laugh. It was rich and sincere. It matched her smile.

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an: Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it! I'm sorry I had to be predictable and bring in an American, but I have a special bond with Claire, and that's the way I'm able to best make her a real and genuine. Sorry again! I won't be predictable in any other ways, I promise!