Part 7

Willow quickly followed the stream of students that were lining the platform. The announcement on the train just before they'd pulled into Hogsmead Station had said that their belongings would be waiting for them at Hogwarts.  She had been concerned about Trixie but Hermione had said it was all right to bring their animals with them.  So she'd gathered up Trixie's carrying case and joined the line eagerly waiting to disembark the train.

Hermione nervously watched the crowd that had gathered around the Station. The new students were chattering excitedly as they took in the sites and sounds of the tiny village of Hogsmeade.  She just hoped that the Death Eaters wouldn't make an attack here. It was a perfect opportunity to strike a blow not only to Dumbledore and the Order but also take out a large group of Muggle born witches and wizards. For the first time Hermione let a little doubt creep into her faith of Dumbledore's decisions. She shrugged off her niggling doubts and gathered her charges.

"What's that?" Jeremy looked at the carriages that were waiting patiently for their riders.

"That's how we'll be going to Hogwarts." Hermione said as she herded Jeremy, Willow, William and Janet across the path.

"I don't see an ignition key or a steering wheel.  How's it work?" William asked as they all settled inside.

Willow turned confused eyes to William, "I'd guess those weird creatures that are strapped to the front pull it."

William, Jeremy and Janet all poked their heads out the windows to see what Willow was talking about. Maybe the creatures had been strapped to the carriage while they were climbing in.

William smirked back at Willow, "What've you been smoking and can I have some? There's nothing there."

Willow's eyes widened, she could have sworn there were creatures strapped to the front of the carriages. Sure they had sorta looked like the kind of horse that would sprout from the Hellmouth but other than that she didn't think she'd imagined them.

"They're thestrals." Hermione said as the carriage began to wind its way toward the school.

Jeremey's mouth dropped open. "You mean there's something really there? How come Willow can see them but we can't?" He hoped that didn't mean that he wasn't much of a wizard. His cousins had teased him enough when he'd told them he was going to a school for witches and wizards.

"I would say Willow could see them because she's witnessed a death. Legend has it that they are harbingers of death but of course that's nonsense.  Hagrid, our Care of Magical Creatures Professor, said the legend began when only those that had experienced death first hand began to see them and they'd tell others about it. Since the first tales of them spread, they were thought to be the horses that brought you to the otherside. Which is kind of ironic since they bring students to the other side to Hogwarts."

Janet rolled her eyes as Hermione finished answering Jeremy's question. She really wished people would quit asking the brunette witch questions. She'd tell you way more information than you wanted to know or care about.  Couldn't she have just said that they're thestrals and you had to have seen death to see them?  Who needed all that extra stuff?

A small gasp escaped Willow as the coach passed through magnificent wrought iron gates flanked by two large columns with winged boars sitting on top. The school was a castle, an honest to goodness castle. For about the millionth time since leaving Sunnydale she wished Xander and Buffy were there with her.

William smiled as the coach stopped and he got his first look at the school. He thought that this might not be so very bad after all. Okay he wasn't a kick ass wizard like in Everquest BUT he would be staying in a castle.

Professor McGonagall stood on the front steps as she waited to greet the first wave of exchange students. "Come with me, please. Sally-Anne and Hermione you may take your seats with your houses."

Hermione was surprised when Professor McGonagall escorted the students to a small side door entrance instead of the large double doors that opened into the Great Hall. She had thought that they would be sorted like any other student that entered Hogwarts for the first time, with much pomp and circumstance.

The Headmaster stood to speak when Professor McGonagall entered through the side doors.

"Welcome! Welcome, most particularly to our guests. It is a tradition at Hogwarts that each new student is sorted into the houses of Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor."

Professor Snape scowled as he placed the four-legged stool, with the Sorting Hat resting on it, in front of the Great Hall. With a glare at the new students he returned to his seat at the staff table.

Dumbledore continued, "Each house has a noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are here the members of your house will be something like a family within Hogwarts."

Draco Malfoy sneered at Dumbledore's speech. He couldn't wait to owl his mother about the disaster that Hogwarts had become. In the beginning of Hogwarts they allowed half-breeds, then werewolves and now Muggle witches and wizards that had no history of magick in their families would be sorted into Slytherin. Maybe this would outrage his mother so much that she'd allow him to transfer to Durmstrang. He knew about the rumors that Potty and Weasel were quick to spread around. That he and the other Slytherins had stayed at Hogwarts only so they could spy for the Dark Lord and Death Eaters. Not that he didn't send information to his mother or his parent's friends but that wasn't why Draco was still there. No Malfoy or Black had ever graduated from any school other than Hogwarts and Narcissa had insisted that Draco WOULD not be the first.

Professor McGonagall called the first name, "Ang, Lee."

A fifteen year old with black hair put on the hat and sat down. After a small hesitation the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table to the right shouted and clapped as they welcomed Lee Ang to their house.

Ron leaned in to whisper in Hermione's ear, "Which are your lot?"

Hermione glanced over to where the new students were nervously standing as they watched their fellow newcomers get sorted. She spotted Willow, Jeremy, Janet and William as they waited for their names to be called. "Those four there."

"Davis, Jeremy."

Ron looked over to where Hermione had indicated and saw a cute red head gently push an eleven-year-old boy toward the stool.

Jeremy glanced nervously back at Willow before he squared his shoulders and put on the hat. His eyes widened as he heard the hat mumbling. If he hadn't wanted to appear a wuss he would have yelped and threw the hat down.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat shouted.

The Gryffindor table erupted into shouts and applause as they welcomed their first student.

Draco sat back with a smirk, as none of those called had been sorted into Slytherin. Maybe this wouldn't be the disaster he thought it would be.

"Declan, Henri."

An older boy smirked back at his companions before making his way to the front of the Great Hall. With a flourish he set the hat on his head and took his seat.

There was silence as everyone waited for the hat to make its pronouncement. "SLYTHERIN!"

Polite applause greeted the newest member of Slytherin house.

Ron looked over at the scowl that Malfoy wore and laughed. "The great git probably thought none of them would be sorted into Slytherin."

Willow shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited for her name to be called. She hated the suspense of where she would be placed. What if her house hated her and she didn't fit in? She hoped she was sorted into Gryffindor since she'd at least know two people with Hermione and Jeremy there.

She was brought out of her scattered thoughts as Professor McGonagall called, "Harbor, Janet".

Janet strode to the stool and placed the Sorting Hat on her head. She had her eye on a blonde hottie and prayed the stupid hat would sort her into his house.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Her shoulders slumped as she set the hat back on the stool and made her way to her new house. It wasn't the same house as the hottie but her eyes scanned her new table as she sat and saw a few hotties among the Hufflepuff. Maybe this wouldn't be too bad after all.

A flush crept up Dennis' cheeks as his stomach growled and Colin elbowed him in the side. "Can't help it. I'm hungry." Dennis muttered as he scowled at his brother.

"Cheer up, mate. It doesn't look like there are that many left." Ron's eyes traveled to where the remaining students waited.

"Rosenberg, Willow."

Ron smiled as the cute red head that he'd noticed before took a deep breath and walked toward Professor McGonagall.

The butterflies were officially doing the tango in her stomach as Willow felt every eye in the huge room staring at her. 'Please put me in Gryffindor,' she thought as she smiled hesitantly at McGonagall and put on the hat.

Willow stiffened as the hat began to mumble in her ear, "Difficult, very difficult, plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind either. A talent oh yes and a thirst to prove yourself. Where to put you, where to put you?"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The Ravenclaw table erupted into applause and shouts as Willow took the hat off her head. 'Okay that was uber-creepy,' she thought as went to meet her new housemates.

A slight blonde smiled and waved for Willow to sit next to her. "Hullo, I'm Luna. Welcome to Ravenclaw."

Willow breathed a sigh of relief as she smiled at Luna. They didn't seem so bad at all though she still wished she'd been placed with Hermione and Jeffery.

Hermione's eyes widened as the Sorting Hat put Willow in Ravenclaw. She had hoped Willow would have been sorted into Gryffindor so she could get to know her better. Not that they didn't have friends in other houses but it wasn't the same as your housemates.

"Wylie, William."

'Finally!' William thought as the old bat called his name.  He made his way to the stool and vowed that this would be the last time he'd wear such a dorky, clichéd hat.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he'd barely put the hat on before it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

Each time the Hat had called out Slytherin the scowl deepened further on Malfoy's face. The only silver lining out of this was that out of all the students sorted only six were sorted into Slytherin. The last one had been sorted into the house as fast as he himself had been in his first year.

Professor McGonagall picked up the stool and took the Sorting Hat away. Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet again and beamed at the new students of Hogwarts. "Welcome to what I hope will be a fascinating time at Hogwarts. Enjoy the Welcoming Feast."