Disclaimer: See Chapter One if you don't believe that I don't own any of the Harry Potter Characters, etc.

A/N: I know this has been a long time coming but, school's been getting on my nerves… GRRR!!! Well, enjoy!!!

Home Sweet Home

            The doors to the Great hall swung inward, revealing four tables filling with students dressed in a similar manner to myself. All eyes turned from previous conversations to land our small, scared forms.

            As we started filing in to the Great Hall, the movements of the butterflies in my stomach intensified and I paled with nervousness. "Is there no such thing as a private sorting ceremony?" I wondered, as I desperately wished to be outside of the gaze of those in the Great Hall. "Do these people not have lives? They can go back to their conversations. I really wouldn't mind. In fact, I'd quite enjoy it. Oh, God help me, I'm going to be sick. I have to concentrate on something else before I become violently ill."

            My eyes scanned the Great Hall for something to take my mind of the sorting and to push down that feeling of wanting to keel over and faint or be sick. As I searched the Great Hall, my eyes landed on Marcus. He quickly separated himself from the group and went to the Slytherin table and sat down. "That lousy prick," I thought "he can't even make friends with the people in his own house. I wonder why. He seems so lonely." My thoughts remained on analyzing the confusing boy that was Marcus Flint and soon I no longer felt sick or nervous.

            However, I had spent so much time analyzing Marcus that I didn't even realize that the group had suddenly stopped and I continued walking. I finally came back to reality when I knocked into something hard and nearly toppled over onto my backside, if it hadn't been for a pair of strong arms wrapping around me, trying to keep me from falling. I had closed my eyes on impact due to instinct and was now perfectly still in the person's arms. As I slowly opened my eyes, I found myself in the arms of an unfamiliar boy and looking up at his gently face, forest green eyes and dirty blond short hair. Glasses framed his beautiful eyes and a smile played upon his lips. I soon released myself from his grasp blushing furiously, still resting a hand on his arm for support and mumbled numerous apologies for ramming into him, though he didn't seem to mind as all he did was stand there staring at me, smiling gently. When I seemed to have finished apologizing the boy turned back to McGonagall rather hesitantly but, still smiling at me 'cause me to blush even more.

            Percy and Oliver noticed me blushing furiously and had seen everything. As McGonagall talked on, Oliver elbowed me in the ribcage.

"Ow," I whispered hoarsely. "What was that for?"

"Sorry," whispered Oliver apologetically. "I was just trying to get your attention, not hurt you."

"Yeah, well now you've got it. What do you want?" I whispered harshly as I rubbed my side.

"Nothing much, just wanted to complement on your not taking to long to take a liking to someone"

I blushed furiously.

"That's not funny Oliver Wood. That is not funny!" I whispered raising my voice but, keeping it low enough not to get caught talking and be scolded by a teacher.

"I thought it was." added Percy wanting to get in on picking on me.

"Since when do you talk?" I asked him, knowing full well, it was the first time he'd actually talked to me. "Besides you're just mad that you've seen the merchandise but, you can't have it."

Percy blushed furiously and the two boys turned to look back at McGonagal and I looked at the back of the unknown boy's head. It was only then that I realized that I had missed the sorting hat's song. "Damn it! I knew I heard music! Stupid Oliver and Percy for making me miss it!" I thought spitefully but, couldn't remain mad as my focus shifted once again to the unknown boy.

~*~*~*~*~*

            McGonagal had already called three names. The student had been sorted two into Hufflepuff and one of Marcus' friends into Slytherin. Marcus now seemed to be talking animatedly with his friend.

"Percy Weasley!" McGonagal called.

            Percy put on a look of determination and walked proudly up to the stool where the sorting hat was. After the hat had formed various different weird looking think positions, it finally shouted, "GRIFFINDOR!" The Griffindor table erupted as Percy hoped off the stool, placed the sorting hat on the chair and walked as quickly as he could to the Griffindor table as possible while managing to keep his composure.

My attention strayed from the sorting to look at Oliver who felt it would be his turn soon. He was pale as a ghost. "Don't worry about it Oliver." I said.

"How can I not worry about it?" he said, his strong accent slurring his words a bit more than usual in his nervousness.

I had to think quickly for a reason. "Just think 'Dancing Peas'." He turned his head to look at me questioningly. "Honestly, just think about 'Dancing Peas' doing the river dance. The silly thought usually puts my mind at ease." Oliver closed his eyes picture peas doing the river dance and smiled. I was glad to see that my idea had worked. He opened his eyes and looked down at me. "Thanks." He said. "No problem." I responded.

"Oliver Wood!" McGonagal's voice resounded.

            Oliver now smiling walked confidently up to the stool. As Oliver put on the hat, it started to laugh jovially and Oliver smiled. The hat soon came to the conclusion that Oliver had a good sense of humor in front of scary things and that he was rather brave and shouted, "GRIFFINDOR!" Oliver wasted no time in bounding down the stairs, coming to sit next to Percy who was already talking to the other Griffindors.

            The numbers of the crowd of unsorted first year grew smaller and smaller to my dismay and yet as well to my pleasure. Soon there were only about ten of us left and my turn HAD to be coming soon. I was now standing beside the unknown boy who kept giving me sideways glances and small friendly grins.

McGonagal took in a deep breath and read loudly, "Amalin McBlain!" I took a deep breath and then proceeded up the stairs at the front of the Great Hall that led to the teacher's table. I turned back only once and was captivated by the unknown boy's eyes and given confidence from the hopeful faces of Oliver and Percy. When I reached the sorting hat, I lifted it off the stool and placed it on my head.

"Hello" A voice came inside my head.

"Hello, to you too" I said in return.

"Well, very polite we are." It said.

"I can be but, not usually."

"Whatever do you mean, to me it seems you have perfect manners and you'd fit right in with Hufflepuff."

"HUFFLEPUFF! Oh no. No way. I refuse to be in Hufflepuff. That place is for pussies!"

"Watch your tongue young lady"

"I'd say watch yours, but you're just a stupid assed hat!" I shouted back at it in my mind.

"I correct myself, you'd be a disgrace to Hufflepuff, but perhaps they'd be able to teach you some manners"

"I will not be in Hufflepuff!" I hissed in my brain.

"My verdict is my verdict," the hat started "and you belong in…" and with that the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

I jumped up and threw the hat on the ground and began stomping on it with my foot. "Eat that you stupid assed, piece of shit hat! I do not belong in HuHf-" I stopped my sentence short and my stomping as I realized the hat HADN'T put me in Hufflepuff. The hat reanimated itself and jump back up on the stool glaring at me. I turned beet red and began apologizing profusely but, it was no use, I had made my second enemy at Hogwarts and it was even technically an animate object.

            As I walked to my table I cursed myself for having acted so stupid and began to blush an even deeper red as I realized the unknown boy was looking at me and trying not to laugh. "He must think I'm so stupid." I thought on the brink of tears. I looked as well to Marcus who wasn't even trying to hold in his laughter at the events that had just occurred.

            I sat down at the table in the only large empty space I could find so that I was alone and didn't turn my attention to the sorting until the only person left to be sorted was the unknown boy.

            He walked confidently up to the sorting hat which made me swoon even more over him. After the sorting hat said a few "Hmmms…" and "Ahhhs", it came to its decision…

A/N: MWHAHA!!! I know I'm evil but, read and review and I'll probably post the next chapter either tomorrow or Monday.