Disclaimer: The plot is mine but the rest belongs to the talented J.K Rowling, it is easy to write when the characters are already so well written and established. I have tried to be as unique as possible and any parallels with other stories are totally coincidental.

Author's Note: This is my first fan fiction, and I have no idea if it's any good! I have just reposted it. I would appreciate your reviews to tell me what you think. I don't mind constructive criticism but please don't be too mean, I couldn't cope! Hope you like it.

Love Fudgexxx

______________________________________________________________

The Sorting

Harry Potter the famous boy who lived smiled his broadest smile. It was his favourite time of year, the beginning of term feast. He was sat between his very best friends in the world, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. They were waiting for the sorting ceremony to start.

A nervous line of first years followed Professor McGonagall to stand by the staff table. There was something wrong, something out of place in the line, a wave of confusion swept over the Great Hall. Towards the end of the line was a girl who couldn't possibly be a first year. She looked about 19, knowing that was impossible, they deducted she must be a 7th year. The sorting hats song silenced the whispering students, nothing like this had happened before. The names of students went by in a blur, being unimportant to the spectators.

"Christie, Tabitha," called Professor McGonagall.

The girl stepped forward. When she placed the sorting hat on her head it didn't fall down past her ears like it did on everyone else. She sat there for a very long time, the sorting hat obviously puzzled as to where exactly this girl belonged.

"Gryffindor," bellowed the hat.

When the rest of the first years names had been called Professor Dumbledore stood, and began, "Welcome everyone, I am sure you are anxious to eat, but as usual I must give out a few start of term notices. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you of the extensive list of pastimes inappropriate in our corridors, can be viewed in his office. I will remind you again that the Forest is off limits to any student, lest they wish a particularly long and painful death," at this the first years gasped, a few elder students chuckled and Dumbledore smiled, "on a brighter note, some of you may have noticed we have a new student joining us who is certainly not a first year. I hope you make her feel most welcome, as a new country and a new school can be difficult enough at the best of times. Enough talking, everybody tuck in."

There was an explosion of noise as Dumbledore sat down, and the plates magically filled. The Gryffindor attention was focussed on the new girl. Hermione managed to get to her first.

"Hi my name's Hermione Granger, I'm a prefect, I'm very pleased to meet you, where are you from, what year are you in?"

"Hello, I'm Tabitha Christie, you can all call me Tabby, and it's great to be here. I am in 7th year."

"Ohhh same as me. This is Harry by the way, and Ron." Harry smiled gently waiting for her to search his hairline, the search didn't come, puzzled and slightly put out Harry thrust out his hand, "Harry Potter," he said as she shook it, still no scar searching, how weird.

"Hi Harry, Ron," she said nodding in Ron's direction.

"We are all in 7th year too, and so is Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender," Hermione continued pointing at each one in turn.

"Good to meet you all," smiled the stranger. The clunking of cutlery took over from the chatter as everyone gave into his or her hunger pains.

The Gryffindor's made their way back to their common room, too weary to talk.

"I don't know where you'll be sleeping, it should think it will be in the same room as us other 7th year girls, but I don't know," said Hermione as they approached the common room, "Dragon snout," muttered Hermione as they reached the portrait of the fat lady, who swung on her hinges to admit them.

Hermione dashed up to the girls dormitory, when she came back she had a satisfied grin on her face, "As I thought," she said smugly, "there's a new bed in our room." After bidding everyone goodnight the two girls climbed up to their rooms, and into bed.

"Well that's new isn't it?"

"What's that?" yawned Ron as they mounted the stairs to their own dormitory.

"Well, what's her name - Tabby, joining in 7th year. I mean what is the point? We have only got a year left, surely she could have stayed where she was?"

"I dunno," muttered Ron, even though the subject intrigued him he was just too tired to care at that particular moment. He didn't know what Harry was complaining about anyway, she was pretty to look at, and so what was the harm in having her around?

Tabby bugged Harry, she hadn't even acknowledged him. It wasn't that he liked people staring at his scar, but it was weird that she had seemed completely unaware of it. Didn't she know who he was? The thing that nagged him the most though was why it bothered him so much. Had he actually wanted recognition from her? Yes. He wanted her to know that he was a great wizard - that he stood above the rest in the year. He wanted her to notice him. How very strange.