For a few seconds there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and the hat began to sing:

"Four houses make up Hogwarts,

Each has their own needs,

Those who belong to Slytherin,

Are full of wicked deeds,

If you are in Gryffindor,

You're more courageous than the rest,

Hufflepuffs are very true,

Their loyalty is the best,

Ravenclaws value minds,

The smartest of them all,

Put me on and I will tell you,

In which house you fall,

I can see what's in your head,

But I will not rat,

I'm smart, loyal, and mysterious,

For I'm the Sorting Hat."

Once the hat finished it's song the whole hall burst into applause. Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"Well I call your name you will put on the hat and sat on the stool to be sorted," Professor McGonagall began," Elixir, Hannah."

After what seemed like forever to Crystal the last child to be sorted, Xon Ethan, was sorted into Slytherin.

The Professor McGonagall continued, "This year we have just one more student to be sorted. She has just transferred to Hogwarts and will be in the seventh year. Lockhart, Crystal."

Crystal walked up, sat on the wooden stool, and put on the worn hat.

"Hmm," a small voice whispered into her ear. "Plenty of courage I see, smart as well. True to all worthy. Persevering until you get what you want. But where to put you?"

"I'm not going to be in Slytherin." Crystal thought. "If I'm in Slytherin I'm leaving and not coming back."

"But you could be great and Slytherin will help you. Well better be GRYFFINDOR!"

Crystal heard the hat shout the last word to the entire hall. She took off toward the Gryffindor table and sat down beside Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Professor McGonagall rolled her up scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet. "I only have a few words to say before we began the feast. Tuck in."

The golden plates in front of the students magically filled with thousands of different foods.

Once all the plates were empty Professor Dumbledore rose once again, "Ahem. I have just a few more words before we end the feast. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all students. And a few of our older students would do well to remember this." Dumbledore's eyes flashed toward Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "I have been told by Mr. Filch, the caretaker that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch tryouts will be held the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house Quidditch teams should contact Madam Houch. And now before we go to bed let us sing our school song."
The whole school burst into song. Crystal just sat there.

Once everyone had stopped singing Crystal and the others got up to go to their dormitories. As Crystal followed Hermione she heard Professor McGonagall say, "Harry stay here. I have to talk to you."

"I'll see you later," Harry called as he went to talk to the Transfiguration professor.

Once Crystal and Hermione reached the common room Hermione said, "Follow me and I'll show you to our dormitory."
Crystal followed Hermione to the girls dorms. After looking around Crystal said, "I think I'm going to like Hogwarts."

"Guess what?" Harry asked as he rushed into the great hall the next morning. The ceiling revealed a bright warm sun half hidden by the many fluffy clouds that were passing by. "Professor McGonagall made me captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. That's why she had to talk to me last night."
"That's cool," Ron, Hermione, and Crystal said in unison.

"Now maybe I can get on the team," Crystal said.

"Maybe," Harry replied, "If you're good enough."

"Oh I am,"
"So what does everyone have today?" Harry asked and he sunk his teeth into a warm piece of buttered toast. "I have all morning with Snape and all afternoon with McGonagall."

"Me too," Crystal, Ron, and Hermione replied.

"Did anyone see who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was last night?" Hermione asked.

"No, come to think of it I didn't," Harry answered.

"Me either," Ron said.

"What's the big deal about knowing who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is?" Crystal began. "You'll find out soon enough."
"You see," Ron started to explain, "we have a different Defense Against the Dark Arts professor every year. Some people even believe the job to be cursed. Lets see. . . . We've had a servant of Voldemort, the famous Gilderoy Lockhart, a werewolf, an impersonator, a real witch, and a lunatic fortune teller."

"I know Gilderoy Lockhart," Crystal said. "I'm related to him. He went to RoseOx when he was my age."
"You're joking," Harry said.

"No, unfortunately I'm not," Crystal replied.

"Oh my gosh," Hermione gasped, "It's almost time for our first lesson. We better hurry."

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Crystal grabbed their bags and rushed down to the dungeons where the Potions class was held.

Once everyone was in the dark classroom Professor Snape said, "Well, well, Mr. Potter. I'm surprised you made it back for one more year. And who do we have here?" Snape was now looking at Crystal.

"My name is Crystal Lockhart."
"It says here that you received top marks in Potions at your other school. Let me see how much you know. What would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Hermione's hand shot in the air. Harry knew the answer but knew better than to raise his hand.

"Asphodel and wormwood," Crystal began, "make a sleeping potion know as the Draught of Living Dead. And I must say Professor, this is first year stuff."

"Very well," Snape said. Apparently he couldn't find anything else to say. "And five points from Gryffindor for Miss Granger being a show off."

Harry started to object but Hermione stopped him.

"Today," Professor Snape began, "we will be making a simple love potion. The instructions are on the board and the ingredients are in the cupboard. You have all class. Begin."

Everyone began running around gathering the ingredients they needed. After starting the potion most people found that there was nothing simple about this love potion. You had to add the exact amount to ingredients at the exact time. Then you had to stir the potion twenty times clockwise then eighteen times counterclockwise.

After everyone had finished the potion Snape walked by each of the caldrons to do his inspection. Surprisingly most of the class done fairly well. The room was shimmering with light pink fumes.

Snape hardly criticized any of the potions and asked the class to fill a flask with their potion, label it with their name, and bring it to his desk.

The bell rang shortly after signally the end of the lesson. The class quickly mad e their way up to the great hall for lunch.