"I'm going to be late!" Crystal called as she ran through Kings Cross Station "Okay, they said I was supposed to run straight through this wall." Crystal looked up at the brick wall standing as a barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Without thinking she pushed her trolley through the wall and emerged standing right in front of the gigantic Hogwarts Express. "I have to hurry," she continued as she rushed onto the train.
"Harry can I sit with you?" Crystal asked as she cam into his compartment.
"Sure," Harry replied. "Ron and Hermione are head boy and head girl. They're talking to the new fifth year prefects. They'll be back in a little while."
"Well that's cool. So it's just you, me, Ginny, and I don't believe I know your name." Crystal said as she noticed a blond haired girl in the back of the compartment with the latest edition of the Quibbler in her hands.
"I'm Luna Lovegood. I'm in Ravenclaw. Who are you?" The girl said.
"I'm Crystal."
Behind Crystal the door opened to reveal Draco Malfoy and his two body guards Crabbe and Goyle.
"Potter found yourself a girlfriend?" Draco sneered.
"Get out of here Malfoy," Harry demanded.
"Hey Draco hows it goin?" Crystal said. "You're a little different than I remember. You look better with out all the baby fat."
"Crystal, daddy said you had transferred. What's the matter, not daddy's little girl anymore?" Draco spat.
"You know I never was daddy's little girl. I was never like him and never will be," Crystal said.
"We'll see. When the time comes you won't be so tough," Draco challenged as he left the compartment.
"What did Draco mean about your dad?" Ginny asked.
""Didn't you ever wonder why I transferred?" Crystal asked. "When I was five years old my father asked me a weird question. He asked if in the end who I thought would win; good or evil. I told him good would always win. He had asked my mom the same question but almost six years before. My mom agreed with me. That's why Lord Voldemort killed her. He knew that I would be born soon so he waited. But I think that he was actually scared. You see my mom was a star gazer. She could predict future possibilities just by looking at the stars. I think that Voldemort thought she was telling the truth and thought that he had to get rid of this obstacle in his way."
About noon a witch came by with a trolley full of sweets. Harry got a little of everything. Not long after the trolley came Ron and Hermione reappeared.
"I'm starved," Ron said as he ripped open a chocolate frog card.
"Ron you're supposed to set an example not be a pig," Hermione snapped.
"I'm not a pig," Ron replied.
"Could you two please stop fighting?" Harry begged.
The rest of the train ride was pretty quiet. Crystal stared out the foggy window. The sun was casting a orange glow over the mountains the train rushed by.
Once the train finally stopped, Crystal left the others and went to join the first years.
"Where did Crystal go?" Harry asked once he noticed Crystal was gone.
"She went to join the first years," Luna replied. "Remember she hasn't been sorted yet."
"Oh yeah," Harry replied.
"Wow, it's so beautiful," Crystal exclaimed as looked up at the magnificent Hogwarts Castle. She carefully stepped in a boat with a small red haired boy. He gave her an evil look then quickly turned away.
"Heads down," yelled a extremely tall man as the boats reached a cliff. Crystal remembered seeing this man before but where?
The boats were carried along through a dark tunnel that appeared to be taking them under the school, until they reached an underground harbor where the students climbed out onto the rocks.
Crystal and the first years walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around a huge, oak door.
"Everyone here?" The tall man called as he raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
"The huge door swung open at once. There illuminated by the candlelight from the castle stood a tall, black haired witch with a very stern face.
"The firs' years Professor McGonagall," the man said.
"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here."
"Hagrid?" Crystal whispered as she looked back at the man.
The stone walls to the entrance hall were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was to high to make out, and a magnificent marble stair case led to the upper floors.
They followed the professor into a small empty chamber off the hall.
Once everyone was crowed inside Professor McGonagall continued, "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here your house is like your family. You will have classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitories, and spend your free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryfindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has it's own history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your house points while any rule breaking will lose your house points. At the end of the year the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of your peers. I suggest you all to smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return for you when we are ready to begin. Please wait quietly.
"I wonder how they're going to sort us?" The red haired first year asked.
The about twenty ghosts flew into the room. A couple of first years screamed, Crystal just laughed.
"Move along," a sharp voice demanded. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. "Now form a line and follow me."
Crystal got at the end of the line. She already knew she would be the last to be sorted.
Crystal followed the others as they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double oak doors which lead to the Great Hall.
Crystal had never seen such place which was so strange but oddly beautiful. It was light by thousands of candle suspended in midair over four long tables where the rest of the school was sitting. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the line up to the front of the hall, so that the line came to a halt in front of the other students.
Crystal looked up and saw a black ceiling dotted with stars. She looked back down and saw Professor McGonagall silently place a four-legged stool in front of the first years and Crystal. On top of the stool she places a pointed wizards hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.