Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places in this story, they are all the wonderful work of J.K. Rowling. The only character I own is Astra Liu.

Authors Note: This chapter will be a bit longer. I hope you like the story so far, please R&R!

Thanks for your review Your Worst Nightmare 13. I didn't describe Astra very well did I? I'll try to make her less of a Mary Sue. As for the bit about witches or wizards going to the school anyway, not all schools are like Hogwarts.

Thanks to everyone else who reviewed, I really appreciate it. This chapter is still introducing the characters. Hopefully in about Chapter 4 the action will start.

Chapter 2 – Let the Sorting Begin

The door opened slowly to reveal a very tall man wearing long plum purple robes and half-moon spectacles. He had extremely long silvery hair and a matching beard which he could of tucked into his belt had he been wearing one. His eyes sparkled rather like Astra's and he had a very long and crooked nose. He smiled at her.

"Astra? Well, well, what a surprise! Come in, come in. Thankyou Minerva, I shall talk to Astra now."

He ushered her into his office and closed the door, leaving Professor McGonagall outside.

Dumbledore's office was wonderful. It was the most beautiful office Astra had ever entered. It was a circular room and various gadgets around the room were making funny noises like the crickets back in Australia. There were many tables dotted around the room, sporting interesting devices that Astra would have liked to investigate further. There were paintings of people Astra supposed were old headmasters and a huge desk in the centre of the room. On a bookshelf behind was a tatty old hat with a rip in the brim. Sitting on a perch next to the hat was a beautiful red and gold bird. It chirped loudly and ruffled its feathers.

"Fawkes," said Professor Dumbledore, "He's a phoenix. They're wonderful birds, when its time for them to die they burn up and are reborn from their own ashes. You're lucky to see him on a good day."

"He's beautiful," said Astra.

Dumbledore didn't say anything. He merely smiled and gestured for Astra to sit down. She sat on a high-backed oak chair. Dumbledore sat down opposite her. He picked up a quill, dipped it in ink and began to write on a piece of parchment. Astra sat and watched before clearing her throat.

"Excuse me," said Dumbledore, "What was I saying?"

"Erm," Astra began.

"Oh yes," he said, "I suppose you are here to ask about enrolment?"

"Yes," said Astra, "Yes, I'd like to come to Hogwarts."

"Well, I don't see any reason why you couldn't. We could make exceptions for you of course. You'll need to visit Diagon Alley with Hagrid to get your wand and books. And then there's the issue of classes. We could squeeze you in somewhere I'm sure. Have you ever done magic before?"

"No," said Astra, suddenly realizing how behind she must be.

"Well, we'll put you with the first years. I hope you don't mind, there's no way you'd be up to learning the same magic as the fifth years. For the moment at least, I'm sure you'll prove very capable at performing basic magic. Now, you'll want to go and see Madam Pomfrey. She'll fix up those scratches and bruises and you can wash yourself. You must be very tired. I'll call one of the House Elves to take you to her. I'm sorry I couldn't talk longer. Dobby!"

He smiled at her. His periwinkle blue eyes sparkled but they didn't really do anything for Astra. She decided she didn't like Dumbledore much. He hadn't talked for long and seemed very hurried. She had millions of questions to ask but she seemed to have had a mental blank. The door creaked open. Astra looked behind her and at first couldn't see anybody.

A squeaky voice said, "Dobby is here, Professor Dumbledore sir."

Astra looked down and saw a very strange creature, standing at the door. He was very small and scrawny and had very large bat-like ears. He had a long nose and big eyes. He was wearing a very strange combination of clothes. He was wearing odd socks, one lilac and the other was rather lumpy and very colourful. It didn't look much like a sock. His shorts were very short and he was wearing a maroon jumper over his bare chest. On his head he wore a dozen colourful hats, all stacked up on top of each other.

"Dobby! This is Astra Liu, take her to Madam Pomfrey and tell her that she needs a shower and lunch and then a rest."

Dobby nodded.

"Thankyou Astra," Dumbledore said, "Dobby will take you to the hospital wing."

"Thankyou Professor," Astra replied.

She followed Dobby out the door and down the stairs. He led her down the corridor, behind a tapestry and down a rickety staircase. There was a door there with a sign saying, Hospital Wing. He knocked on the door. It was opened by an elderly lady with grey hair wearing an apron.

"Astra Liu, Madam Pomfrey," said Dobby quickly, bowing to her.

"Thankyou," said Madam Pomfrey, giving Dobby a knowing glance. Dobby winked at her. Then he was gone.

"Well Miss Liu," she said, "I think you should have a nice long bath and something to eat. Then I'll fix up your wounds and you can have a nice long rest. Wait a moment while I get you a towel and some spare robes."

She bustled off into another room. Astra looked around. She was in a very long room with many beds lining either side. There were curtains around each bed and a small table beside them. Madam Pomfrey came out of the other room with a fluffy white towel and a bundle of black robes.

"Here you are dear," she said, "The bath is in that room there. Make sure you wash yourself properly and you'll feel much better."

"Thankyou," said Astra, taking the towel and robes. She entered the other room. It was a small bathroom, with interestingly decorated tiles and a large bath in the middle. It took up most of the room. She put the towel and robes down by the side and turned on the taps. Steaming hot water poured out of them, she filled the bath up to the brim. She undressed and stepped into it. It was wonderful, she hadn't bathed for months. She washed the dirt of her and lay back. It was relaxing and refreshing. Finally there was a call from outside.

"Are you nearly done in there dear? Only its lunchtime and you'll need a good nap before dinner."

Astra got out of the bath and changed into the robes. It felt wonderful to be clean. She went back into the main room.

"Good, good," said Madam Pomfrey, "I'm sorry I had to rush you, but the start-of-term feast is tonight and Dumbledore wants you there. You're lucky you turned up when you did otherwise there would have been many questions asked. Just come over here and sit on this bed. What would you like for lunch? Soup? Sandwiches? Salad?"

"Soup please," said Astra, "So does that mean there are no students here at the moment?"

"Yes, you're the only one. Not for long though, they'll be arriving at six o'clock. You'll be sorted with the first years I suppose. Do you know anything about the housing system here at Hogwarts?" she chatted away happily and she stirred the soup.

"No," said Astra. "Well, there are four houses, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slytherin."

"What house were you in Madam Pomfrey?" asked Astra. "I was in Ravenclaw," she said and Astra could tell from her misty eyes that she was reminiscing about her days at Hogwarts. She placed a bowl of steaming soup in front of Astra.

"Now eat quickly," she snapped, suddenly irritable, "You need some rest."

Astra finished her soup quickly. It had a wonderful taste, much better than rats and the sorts of things Astra had been living on. Then Madam Pomfrey handed her a gold goblet full of a thick purple mixture. Astra drank it and fell back immediately on to the pillow. She closed her eyes and sleep hit her.

Six hours later Madam Pomfrey roused her from her sleep.

"It's time to head down to the feast," she said.

Astra got out of bed and Madam Pomfrey tied her long mousey brown hair back in a bun.

"Now at least you'll look presentable. I've called on a house elf to take you down to the first years. Professor McGonagall will show you where to go."

She opened the door of the hospital wing to reveal a smiling little elf. He was wearing a toga-like garment with the Hogwarts crest stamped across it.

"Take Astra down to the first years," said Madam Pomfrey to the elf. He nodded and set off down the corridor.

"Thankyou Madam Pomfrey," Astra said before hurrying off after the elf.

He took her down to the Entrance Hall and led her into a small chamber off the side.

"Here you go Miss Liu; the first-years will be here soon!"

He smiled at her and left. Astra looked around; the lighting in the chamber was very dim. There was a large rug on the floor and a few chairs by the wall. There was nothing else in there. She sat down on one of the chairs and waited. So much had happened to her, she didn't know what to think. This time yesterday she had been out in the forest plodding onwards, dressed in rags and covered in grime. Now she was clean and warm but she still felt empty; as though she didn't belong.

The door opened. Professor McGonagall entered the room, followed by a line of very scared looking boys and girls. They stared at Astra. Professor McGonagall nodded to her.

"Just wait here children," she said, "I will be back in a moment ready to start the Sorting."

Astra suddenly wondered what the Sorting consisted of. Maybe they had to perform magic. She suddenly felt very sick, she didn't know a single scrap of magic, these children were probably up to their ears in it. A few minutes later Professor McGonagall reappeared.

"Follow me," she said. She led them out of the chamber and across the Entrance Hall into a very large room with four long tables lined up in it and a fifth up the top. It was lit with thousands of candles hovering in midair. Seated at the four tables were hundreds of chattering students wearing the same black robes as she was and black pointed hats. As soon as the oak doors closed behind them silence fell in the hall. All eyes were on the first years and Astra. Professor McGonagall led them up the middle of two tables. They stopped in front of the top table, the staff table and Professor McGonagall placed a stool in front of them and put a tatty old hat on it. Everyone stared at the hat.

"Let the Sorting begin," said Professor McGonagall.