A/N: Hi, everyone! Another chapter! yay! Okay, please, as always, review! Thanks SO much to everyone who's been reviewing! Please tell me what you think about a possible Draco/Lenore? Relationship! This is the chapter where Lenore is sorted…!!!! So what are you waiting for?!? Start reading, lol!

Chapter 17:

The ride was pretty boring until about fifteen minutes before reaching Hogwarts, when Lenore began asking about Malfoy.

"So… why don't you like the Slytherins? What is so bad about them?" she began tentatively.

"Well," said Hermione slowly, "they aren't exactly the nicest people."

"I thought Draco was nice… hey, do all English guys kiss your hand like that? If they did, that would be, like, SO completely cool!" Harry and Ron rolled their eyes and exchanged glances with Neville, while Hermione looked out the window with a slight smile tugging at her lips and Ginny giggled and spoke.

"I wish," said Ginny, "but no, not all British guys kiss your hand." She sighed loudly before continuing. "And Malfoy isn't nice. You should hear his reputation… plus, he hates any non-purebloods and he thinks he's better than everyone, and his father's a death eater, and I could go on."

Lenore looked uncertain for a moment before her face changed to sympathy. "Sounds like a rough childhood; he can't be that bad; isn't he in the order?" Ron snorted audibly.

"Bad childhood?" he laughed, "Right. He's gotten every bloody thing he's ever wanted!"

"So?" asked Lenore fairly. "All of his mockery and bitterness could be a plea for help!" That comment sent everyone in the compartment bursting into hysterical fits of laughter. Even Luna was chuckling.

"That's- a- good- one- 'Nore-" wheezed Ron.

Hermione was in fits of hysterics, which didn't engulf her often.

"Was it something I said?" asked Lenore as she looked disdainfully at Neville, who was hiccuping, and Ginny, who was falling out of her chair. By the time the group had finally finished rolling on the floor laughing, they had reached Hogwarts. Harry was immediately happy to see the castle across the lake.

"Welcome home, Harry," he whispered to himself. And it was the strangest thing, for, as he looked into the uncertain horizon, he missed Sirius more than ever. He tried to swallow the rising lump in his throat, trying to ignore thoughts of his father, Lupin, and Sirius arriving at Hogwarts every year, together.

"Harry?" asked Ginny softly, touching Harry's arm. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah," said Harry hoarsely, snapping into reality. The redhead beside him smiled reassuringly.

"It's all right, Harry. Come on. The carriages are here." She then looked to them apprehensively. A thought suddenly occurred to Harry.

"Can you see them, Gin?" he asked, referring to the Thestrals. She shook her head.

"No; I still haven't seen anyone die. I was in the other room. But somehow, being so close to that immense pain so often in this world, it feels like we all should be able to see them." Harry nodded thoughtfully. A voice suddenly rang out into the crowd, and Harry smiled.

"Firs' years this way! Firs' years over here! C'mon, this way!" The man then spotted Harry.

"Hi, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny! How yeh been?"

"Great, Hagrid!" called Harry before the man's attention was captured by a flock of first years huddling, frightened, by the boat. Harry smiled at his friend. He then climbed into a carriage with Lenore, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville.

"Harry," said Lenore as soon as they were settled into the carriage, "What are those horse-things?" Harry looked strangely at the others, wondering the same question that Ron voiced.

"Who've you seen die, Lenore?" he asked interestedly.

Lenore looked rather taken aback by the question and Hermione hit Ron's arm, giving him a meaningful look. "You- are- tactless!" she hissed before Lenore answered.

"Um… nobody, as far as I know…" she began, her emerald eyes and her freckles forming a frown. "Why? And what are they?"

Harry looked at her, taken aback for a moment. How could she see the Thestrals? "Well, Lenore, er…" he trailed off for a moment. "Thestrals pull the carriages, and, well, you aren't supposed to see them unless you've seen somebody die," he finished bluntly. Lenore looked very startled.

"Are you sure?" she asked. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Ginny nodded.

"How many of you can see them?" she then asked.

"Well, Harry, of course," said Hermione, "and Neville."

"Oh," said Lenore pensively. "Well, maybe there's an exception or something."

"Yeah," said Harry, disbelieving. He'd ask Hagrid tomorrow. In almost no time, they had reached Hogwarts and were sitting at the Gryffindor table, except Lenore, who was sitting at the staff table at the moment, next to Dumbledore, who almost immediately rose to give a speech. Harry inwardly thanked Dumbledore for beginning before Ron could begin ranting on how hungry he was and Hermione could start nagging him.

"May I have your attention," began Dumbledore. At once, all of the talking ceased leaving a respectful quiet hanging in the Great Hall. "Thank you," he said, his eyes twinkling slightly. "Before the sorting and other announcements, I would like to inform the school of a new student from America, Lenore Felkes. I trust that she will be made feel welcome. We will sort her before the first years begin." The whole school began whispering excitedly; they'd never had a new upper-grade student before.

Harry watched Lenore shake her chestnut and gold hair back before walking nervously up to the sorting hat, looking at it rather incredulously. She sat onto the stool, her emerald eyes looking nervous but excited, and she placed the hat upon her head. Harry held his breath with anticipation. And they waited, the whole school. The hat was on Lenore's head for a minute, then two, then three. Ron looked at his watch impatiently. Four minutes. Finally, the hat called out.

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindors all cheered excitedly and the rest of the school looked a bit disappointed. Harry saw many boys' heads turn to stare at his cousin as she walked by confidently.

"Congratulations, Lenore!" squealed Hermione, jumping up to hug her.

"Thanks," she smiled. "That took FOREVER! Does it take so long for everyone?"

"Actually, no," said Ron. "But well done; I knew you'd be a Gryffindor!"

The feast passed by quickly, with many people introducing themselves to Lenore, Ron stuffing his mouth with food, Hermione being disgusted by it, DA members coming up to Harry asking if they were carrying on, Slytherins whispering threats in Harry's ear as they walked by, and people talking excitedly about Evelyn and Calista.

("I heard they were lost in a desert for twelve years-"

"Well, I'm sure that they've been held captive by Voldemort, being tortured for information-"

"No, no, you have it all wrong, they were stuck on an uncharted island without their wands-")

Harry chuckled at all of the theories arising on the way back to the common room as he talked with Ron and Hermione. Ginny was with some fifth years and Lenore was talking with a Gryffindor girl in Harry's year that he'd never really ever talked to that much, Robyn Astirr. Robyn had long blonde, wavy hair and bright blue eyes. She was medium height and was very pretty, though she was very quiet as well.

When they reached the Fat Lady, they said the new password (Anti-Umbridge United) Harry climbed sleepily up to his tower and began getting ready for bed.

"Had a good summer, Harry?" asked Seamus happily.

"You bet he has, you should've seen him and Ginny every day-" teased Ron before Harry hurled a pillow at him. Harry noticed that Dean seemed rather upset when Ginny was mentioned.

"Yeah, Seamus," said Harry. "I have. You?"

"Yeah, just normal, I suppose," shrugged Seamus. "Did you know the new girl already?"

"Yes," said Harry casually. "We met this summer."

"She's really hot," stated Dean. Everyone in the room but Harry nodded, even Ron. Harry glared at him.

"Don't get defensive, Harry, I fancy Hermione. I just don't think Lenore is all bad looking."

"Yeah," laughed Dean. "Don't you think she's pretty, Harry?" Harry really didn't want to think of his cousin like that.

"She's all right," he said unemotionally. Seamus and Dean snorted.

"Well, I'm going to bed. See you in the morning," said Neville. Everyone agreed and said goodnight, when Harry suddenly heard his name loudly.

"Harry Potter." Harry sat up, looking around.

"Harry Potter." He frowned, wondering where the voice was coming from.

"Harry Potter." Harry suddenly realized that it was Lenore, and he dug the mirror from his trunk.

"What, Lenore?" he said, exasperated as he finally looked into the mirror, seeing his cousin's reflection.

"Oh, sorry, Harry, did I wake you?"

"No," yawned Harry.

"Okay, good. Hermione wants me to tell you to practice Occlu-whatever."

Harry sighed, annoyed. "All right, tell her I will. Goodnight, Lenore. See you tomorrow."

"Night, Harry," smiled Lenore. "See ya." With that, Harry put away the mirror and drifted off into a disturbed sleep, even though he'd practiced Occlumency.

"Salazar, why?"

"Godric, I had no idea she would… I didn't know. And now she's left me as well… Filthy mudblood…"

"Are you sure Amara's yours?'

"Positive, Godric, and I'm so sorry… that evil mudblood, she will pay…"

"Salazar, don't say that."

"Helga… she is one. The school would be better without them."

"No, don't judge them all, Salazar."

"I agree with them on this, Salazar; we all know that Acacia is… but you're taking it too far. Let's forget about her."

"No, Godric. I can't forget about her. I loved her, and now she's gone, the back-stabbing… and to him!"

"I know, Salazar, I know."