Scribbler's Notes:

Did I do a good job on the last chapter? God I hope so. Well. Yeah. Here's the next part of Silver Ribbon. There are a few direct quotes from The Philosopher's Stone, marked in stars. Copyright J.K.Rowling, of course. Enjoy.

Sept 1, first year...

Maya stared out the window, watching the changing scenery. Lauren had run off to find a friend of hers and, something found extremely funny, had missed the food. A lady had come by, pushing a trolley and Maya had stocked up on pumpkin pasties, one of her favorite treats. She'd also grabbed a couple of chocolate frogs and left one for Lauren on her sister's seat. When Lauren finally returned, she grabbed a pasty from Maya and took a bite out of it, grinning and talking around the food in her mouth.

"Arry Opper's om ba twain," she said excitedly. Maya rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Try again without the food ok?" Lauren swallowed and repeated herself.

"Harry Potter's on the train. I heard the Weasley twins yelling about it. And then Jessica Griffin... you remember her right? She was at that Quiddich game in Yorkshire. Anyways, she said that Fred and George SAW his scar, that it's really there." Lauren looked thoughtful, "do you think he really lived with Muggles all that time?" Maya rolled her eyes and ignored Lauren, returning to her inactive state of gazing out the window. Lauren continued to rave about the amazing Boy Who Lived, but Maya barely heard. Everyone raved about Harry Potter, but Maya found it all rather boring to listen to. She zoned Lauren out and continued staring out the window. When Lauren's chattering grew too annoying, she gave up.

Sighing, the girl went to change into her robes. The train arrived at Hogwarts about half an hour later and the students piled off it, chatting in the same excited tone Lauren had used earlier. A tall man was calling over the crowd:

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" This had to be the gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid. Maya smiled nervously at him as he lead the first years down to a lake. They were ushered onto boats that took them over the lake to Hogwarts. Maya and Lauren sat in their boat with twin girls, Padma and Parvarti Patil. They stared in awe at the massive castle, all four girls sighing with delight. The boats stopped and they were led up a flight of stone steps. Maya watched in anticipation as the massive man in front of them knocked on the castle door. A woman, who was quickly identified as Professor McGonagall by Hagrid, opened it. The first years were handed over to her and she led them through the entrance hall. Lauren looked at Maya, who gripped her hand reassuringly. The group, most looking as nervous as Maya, was sent into a chamber by the Great Hall. When they were all crowded in, the Professor began to speak.

"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 will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common-room.'

'The four houses are called Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble 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 house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. 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 the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting"

Maya brushed a stray hair off her robes and shifted nervously. She barely noticed the ghosts that floated into the room, ignoring their conversation with each other and the rest of first years. It wasn't until the ghosts left that she realized Professor Mcgonagall had returned and was speaking to them. She quickly caught up with the students filing out the door, through the hall and into the Great Hall. She amused herself by examining the back of a tall redhead boy. He reminded her of a Weasley and she decided to watch to see if she was right. In front of him was a dark haired boy. She didn't pay much attention to him. A hat, rather frayed and dirty, was placed on a stool and everyone stared at it as if it was the most wonderful thing in the world. Maya had a feeling that the hat had something to do with their being sorted. And sure enough after a pause, the hat began to sing.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap! "

Maya grinned at Lauren who was standing behind her as they joined in clapping. The hat was now silent and Professor Mcgonagall stepped forwards to read off a roll of parchment. The first name was called.

"Abbott, Hannah!" The hat placed her in Hufflepuff. The next girl was placed in Hufflepuff as well, and then a boy was put in Ravenclaw. The next girl was also placed in Ravenclaw, then a new first year girl for Griffindor and Slytherin each. Maya didn't pay much attention after that, except when Lauren was put in Hufflepuff. When Harry Potter was put in Griffindor, she looked up. Her name would be soon. Sure enough, just a few names later:

"Riddle, Maya!" She hurried up and put on the hat as she sat on the stool. She could hear a soft voice in her ear.

"Hmm... well well, what have we here." Before Maya could ask what the hat meant, it called out "Slytherin!" Maya's eyes went wide and she dropped the hat on the stool, staring at the floor as she walked over to the Slytherin table. She glared at Draco, who was laughing quietly at her placement. She watched the rest of the Sorting. She had been right about the red haired boy. He was a Weasley. Ronald Weasley to be exact. She shrugged it off. None of them would ever talk to her again anyways. Jessica Griffin was in Hufflepuff with Lauren, the Patil twins were in Griffindor and Ravenclaw and her best friend from back home, Amy Dwyer had been put in Ravenclaw.

The feast began and the plates in front of her filled up. She eyed the food sadly, absently sipping at a glass of water and picking at a bit of Yorkshire pudding. None of the Slytherins spoke to her and she wasn't surprised. She just wanted the feast to be over. She hid her face in her hands as she waited for Dumbledore to send them on their way. She heard the faint sound of singing as the meal vanished, then Dumbledore's voice.

"Ah music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" Maya dove out of her chair and followed the Slytherin prefects to the dungeons. Gertrude Willingson told them the password (bezoar) and they filed into the common room. Maya bolted for her dormitory once she found out where it was. Angel was sitting in her cage, clicking her beak impatiently. Maya let her out and she soared out to sit on her shoulder. Maya gently stroked her head and sat on her bed, picking up a large, leather bound book. Stuffed with blank white pages, she had it already half full with drawings, writing and poetry. She leaned back and Angel jumped down to sit on the bed next to her while she picked up a quill and ink and began to write, scratching out her thoughts on the paper.

Slytherin. I'm in SLYTHERIN. That damn hat put me in the crappiest house. I wanted Ravenclaw. I so wished to be in Ravenclaw. But nooo, that's too hard for the dumb hat. I just had to go into Slytherin. Draco Malfoy seems to think it's hilarious. Why oh why did I tell him I wouldn't go in Slytherin if he paid me a thousand galleons?

And to make matters worse, Amy hates me now. She glared at me after the feast, and Jessica and Pansy spent most of the feast shooting nasty looks at me. I think they blame me. I think Lauren does too. She hasn't spoken to me, even when I tried to talk to her before we left the hall. It's going to be a very lonely year if it's just me and Angel and this journal. I have a feeling that's exactly how it's going to be. Ug. I hate school already and we haven't even begun classes. Won't that be fun.

Scribbler's Notes:

Well there's Maya being angsty about life. And yes, I had to have the little quotes. Least I credited them to the original author. Anyways. See you on the next chapter.